The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct vision.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Key Acquisitions
This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete message from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s the game demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the incoming Lead of the team. After several months of talks, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s management and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming him soon. We are all looking forward to continue seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the description reads. "Take on the competition with new abilities, risks, and challenges that evolve every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as development advances.
